This week (2-9 February), Oxford City Council is celebrating Oxford Living Wage Week. Councillor Chewe Munkonge discusses why it is such an important initiative.
Oxford is one of the best cities to live and work in, but it's also one of the most expensive. Too many of the people who keep this city running are struggling to meet the cost of rent, food and daily essentials. The Oxford Living Wage is one of the simplest and most effective ways to change that. By choosing to pay your staff fairly, you can help build a city where everyone has a chance to thrive.
Oxford City Council launched the Oxford Living Wage (OLW) in 2018, following a cross-party campaign in 2017, to reflect the real cost of living here. It is set at 95% of the London Living Wage and is calculated to reflect real household costs. From April this year, it will rise to £14.06 an hour, compared to the National Living Wage of £12.71. For someone working full-time at an OLW employer, that is an extra £2,632.50 a year. That helps people have a decent standard of living, build savings, and spend more money in the local economy.
Nationally, more than half of low-paid parents have had to turn to food banks. No one should be forced into that position. Paying a living wage helps tackle in-work poverty, reduces stress and improves wellbeing. It gives people more stability, including being able to live closer to work and spend less time commuting.
Employers are seeing benefits as well. More than 180 Oxford employers are currently accredited, meaning over 30,000 people are being paid the OLW as a minimum. This includes Oxford Bus Company, ODS, The Oxford Trust, colleges, cafés, charities and independent shops. Their experiences are consistent, staff are happier, they stay longer, perform better and take fewer days off. Overall, recruitment costs are lower.
Aldens the butchers, who have been serving the people of Oxford for over 230 years, pay the Oxford Living Wage. They’ve noticed an average staff service of more than four years, a sign of what fair pay can do for your team. When people feel valued, businesses thrive!
Paying the OLW also gives employers an advantage. In a challenging market, offering a wage that reflects how expensive Oxford is helps to attract skilled local people. And with our brand new Oxford Living Wage window stickers, accredited employers will be even easier to spot.
Becoming an accredited employer is free and simple. You just fill out a short online form and we will guide you through the process. Employees can also help. A conversation with a manager or HR team about why the Oxford Living Wage matters can start real change, and our webpages include all the information you need.
We all want a fairer and stronger Oxford. By paying the Oxford Living Wage, you are helping build it, one workplace at a time. This is a movement that benefits everyone!
Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for a Healthier, Fairer Oxford
This week (2-9 February), Oxford City Council is celebrating Oxford Living Wage Week. It’s part of the Council's annual campaign and a way to shine a spotlight on local businesses doing good. It also highlights why the Oxford Living Wage is so important and shares information that might encourage new organisations to adopt it. If you are interested in finding out about the benefits of paying a living wage or would like to accredit your business, please visit the Oxford Living Wage webpages.
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